Is post-operative radiotherapy (radiation therapy) recommended for an older patient with gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer) after surgery?

Post-Operative Radiotherapy in Gastric Cancer

Post-operative chemoradiotherapy (not radiotherapy alone) is recommended for patients with resected gastric cancer who have T3-T4 tumors or node-positive disease, provided they did not receive preoperative therapy and underwent less than optimal (D2) lymph node dissection. 1

Treatment Algorithm Based on Surgical and Pathologic Features

For Patients Who Did NOT Receive Preoperative Therapy:

Early Stage Disease (Tis, T1N0, or T2N0 without high-risk features):

• Observation alone is appropriate after R0 resection 1, 2
• No additional treatment is necessary 2

T2N0 with High-Risk Features:

• Fluoropyrimidine-based postoperative chemoradiotherapy is recommended for patients with poorly differentiated tumors, lymphovascular invasion, neural invasion, or age <50 years 1
• This is a category 2B recommendation given limited evidence in this specific subgroup 1

Advanced Disease (T3-T4 or Any Node-Positive):

• Fluoropyrimidine-based chemoradiotherapy (45-50.4 Gy) with concurrent 5-FU or capecitabine is the standard of care (Category 1 recommendation) 1
• This is based on the landmark INT-0116 trial showing improved median survival (36 vs 27 months) and 3-year overall survival (50% vs 41%) compared to surgery alone 1, 3
• The survival benefit persists beyond 10 years of follow-up 1

Positive Margins:

• R1 resection (microscopic residual): Fluoropyrimidine-based chemoradiotherapy is recommended 1
• R2 resection (macroscopic residual): Chemoradiotherapy or palliative chemotherapy, depending on performance status 1

Critical Context: Quality of Surgery Matters

The benefit of post-operative radiotherapy is strongly influenced by the extent of lymph node dissection performed:

• In the INT-0116 trial, 54% of patients underwent inadequate (D0) lymphadenectomy and only 10% had D2 dissection 1
• Post-operative chemoradiotherapy appears to compensate for suboptimal surgery 1
• Retrospective data from the Dutch D1D2 trial suggests chemoradiotherapy reduces local recurrence after D1 resection but provides no benefit after optimal D2 resection 1
• However, other data suggest potential benefits even after D2 dissection, particularly in node-positive disease 1, 4

For patients who underwent optimal D2 lymphadenectomy:

• The role of post-operative radiotherapy remains controversial 1, 5
• Consider chemoradiotherapy for high N-stage disease (multiple positive nodes) even after D2 resection 5, 4
• Observation may be appropriate for lower-risk patients after D2 resection 1

Recommended Regimen (NOT the INT-0116 Protocol)

The original INT-0116 regimen (bolus 5-FU/leucovorin) is no longer recommended due to excessive toxicity (54% grade 3-4 hematologic, 33% grade 3-4 GI toxicity, 17% treatment discontinuation) 1

Current recommended approach:

• Fluoropyrimidine (infusional 5-FU or capecitabine) before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy 1
• Radiation dose: 45-50.4 Gy in 1.8-2.0 Gy fractions 1
• Concurrent fluoropyrimidine-based radiosensitization during radiation 1

Alternative: Perioperative Chemotherapy

For patients who received preoperative chemotherapy (e.g., MAGIC trial regimen with ECF):

• Complete the planned postoperative chemotherapy cycles (Category 1) 1
• This approach is widely adopted in Europe as an alternative to post-operative chemoradiotherapy 1
• Observation is also an option for node-negative disease after preoperative therapy 1

Special Considerations for Older Patients

Medical fitness is the key determinant, not chronologic age:

• Medically fit older patients should receive the same treatment as younger patients 1
• For medically unfit patients with unresectable disease, radiotherapy with concurrent 5-FU-based radiosensitization remains an option 1
• Best supportive care is appropriate for patients with poor performance status 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not use radiotherapy alone without chemotherapy - the standard is chemoradiotherapy, not radiotherapy alone 1, 3
• Do not use the original INT-0116 bolus 5-FU/leucovorin regimen - use infusional fluoropyrimidines instead to reduce toxicity 1
• Do not automatically apply post-operative chemoradiotherapy after optimal D2 resection - the benefit is less clear in this setting 1
• Whole abdominal irradiation is not superior to standard field radiotherapy and causes significantly more toxicity 6